Retort-cleaner



R. B. FINN.

RETORT CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1920.

1 ,37Q,201 Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

WITNESS INVENQI R 1 5 M 1 1- BY 1 z A62% i A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PA NT ROBERT is, FINN, QF'SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. I 1' 1 mam-mime.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I ROBERT B. FINN, a citizen of the United gtates, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Retort-Cleaneraof which the following is a specification.

My invention hasv for its object the pro vision of means within afcond'ensing chamber, whereby the mouth of a retort opening into said chamber may be readily cleaned of any obstructions,vsuch as condensed material and which would otherwise y, impede the progress of the fumes into the condensing chamber; and devices whereby the said cleaner may be operated from the outside of the chamber.

My invention is particularly applicableto apparatus for the condensation of metallic fumes, such as the production of zinc dust,

and reference is herein made to my copending application, Serial No. 317,603, "filed Aug. 14, 1919, wherein are set forth a process and apparatus for the production of zinc dust, to whichthis my present invention is applicable.

During condensation of metallic fumesin the chamber more or less condensation also takes place within the mouth or neck, of

the retort, which of necessity; is removed from the zone of greatest heat wherethe metal is volatilized; and this condensation results in an obstruction forming. in the mouth of theretort whereby theegress'of the metallic fumes is impeded and which thereby retards the rate of the zinc dust.

The condensation'of metallic fumes must take place in the presenceof anine'rt gas such as nitrogen for the reason that the presence of such a gas as oxygen results in the formation of metallic oxids, which are then found as impurities in the product. It is therefore advisable to keepthe condensing chamber and retort sealed from the atmosphere during the progress of the condensaproduction of tion and this implies the sealing of the mouth of the retort to the chamber and the exclusion of any atmospheric contamination.

In my invention I provide means whereby the cleaning member, which may be used to remove the obstructions in the mouth of the retort, is actuated from the outside of the condensing chamber and through suit- Application filed March 10, 1920. Serial iiwsesis,

. Specification of Letters Patent; P te t 1, 1921- in assembled positionand showing the cor- V respond ng normal position of the cleaner.

Fig. shows the same parts as Fig. 1, but atright angles thereto. i

i Fig. '3'shows a variation in, the cleaner and itsmethod of adjustment. Throughout the figures vsimilar refer toidenticalpartsj ,A

Thelcondenser chamberis indicated by the numeral 1, "and the retort within which the volatilization occurs isshown at 2; The retort is provided with a neck 3, extended into or connectedwith the chamberl numerals A furnace within'fwhich the retort is heatedisshown at 4, and an outlet for the condensates is indicate'dby the numeral 5.-

The chamberis preferablylmounted upon rollers 6-, 7, so that it may be laterally displaced withregard to the retort for recharg I I i'n'g'the latter, This is acc omplished "by moving the chamberon the rollers across the floor s. The chamber is sealed to the retort by any suitable means as by the luting 9 so that the, ondensation ofthe fumesfrom 2' and within chamber 1 takes place without 1 any atmospheric contamination.

. During the eget tion ofthe mafia of the retort at 2, and the passing of the fumes through the neck3 n1ore 01- 1 5 on that the neckfibedensation takes place so comes impeded or congested jby condensed move into the mouth, or neck, of the retort,-

thereby clearing the neck 3 of the said dust or other obstruction and forcing it back into the retort so that it is again volatilized. The-membe'rlO is mounted on the arm 11 whichlatterswings with the axis 12. The

axis 12 is carried in an internally disposed material. In the processherefldescribedthis 4 from the end 25.

V of chamber 3 and by its rotation and advance into into the retort 2.

substantially support 13 and passes through the wall of the chamber 1, where it is supported as at 14, and is also suitably packed by the gland 15 to prevent air contamination with theinterior of the chamber. 1

The arm 11 is fixed to the shaft 12 as by the pin 16 and the shaft'may be rotated as by thecrank 17 to clear the neck 8. In order to provide for variations in the relative positions of the retort neck 3 to the chamber and cleaning mechanism, as during periods of different treatments, I prefer to provide an adjustment as by the screw threads'and nuts at 18 whereby the cleaner head 10 may be relatively varied with respect to the shaft 12, so as to'accommodate it to any varied position of the neck 3 or the retort. And I also provide lateral adjust ment for the cleaner headlO and shaft 12, as by'collars atv 19, 20. I I

At'Fig. 13 I have shown a variation in the construction of the cleaner wherein 21 in- Y dicates a rotatable fork or disk ended member, adapted to pass into the mouth or neplk t e neck. clear the obstruction forcing it back The fork or disk end 21 is carried upon the arm'22, which inturn is supported from the; chamber wallrat 23 and provided with a suitable packing gland as 24, the device being operable by'hand time as theox'ygen contained isconsumed.

the present case the oxid of zinc, will now be deposited upon the sloping bottom of the chamber 1, and may be withdrawn from. the outlet 5. During this step in the process the gaseous content lhas changed from air to inert nitrogen and the metallic fumes issuing through the neck 3 will now continue to The fume oxid, in

the chamber 1 is then rolled 8 on the rollers 6, 7 until.

condense in the chamber 1 without oxid (301113211111113131011; Fromtime to time condensation in the mouth of the retort 3 will have built up an obstruction, to the issuing fumes and the cleaner is now to be operated either by the crank 17, if of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or by the hand member 25 in the type shown in Fig. 3, the head of the cleaner. entering the neck 3 and thereby removing the said obstruction by forcing it back into the retort 2 when the fumes will continue to issue from the retort unimpeded and thus maintain the maximum rate of condensation at all times throughout the volatilization of the complete charge of the retort.

I claim: V

1. In combination with a retort and condenser chamber, a cleaner mounted within said chamber and 'movable to clear the mouth of the retort, and operable means external to the chamber'and passing thereinto and adapted to operate the cleaner, and devices sealing said chamber around said operable means and from the atmosphere.

2. In a combined retort and condenser, a cleaner for the mouth of the retort located within the chamber, an arm to actuate said cleaner and passing through the chamber wall and packing means around said arm sealing said chamber from the atmosphere.

3. In a combined retort and condenser, a cleaner for the mouth of'the retort located within the chamber, an arm to actuate said cleaner and passing through the chamber 'wall and packing means around'said arm sealing said chamber from the atmosphere, and forming a guide for said arm and cleanermovement. p 4. The combinationof a retort, a condensing chamber within'which said retort'is adapted to discharge fumes, and a cleaner mounted to move within said chamber'and toward and withinthe mouth'of said retort, support means for said cleaner and means external to said chamber constructed and adapted to operate said cleaneryand a device fixed to the chamber wall and through which the means pass sealing the chamber from the atmosphere, In testimony my hand at San whereof, I have hereunto set Franclsco, Californla.

ROBERT B. rum.

as and-for the purpose set forth. 

